Test Structure
| Category | Ranked Highest |
Ride & Drive (30% of total points) | | * Urban | Wrangler |
| * Highway | Avalanche |
| * High Speed Dirt & Gravel | Avalanche |
| * Sand | FJ Cruiser |
| * Rockcrawling | Wrangler |
| * Hillclimbing | Wrangler |
| * Braking Quality | Wrangler |
| Overall | Wrangler |
| Empirical (25% of total points) |
| * Torque/Weight Ratio | Sierra |
| * 11/44-mile Acceleration | Sierra |
| * 60-0 Braking | Sorento |
| * Load-carrying Capacity | Tahoe |
| * Miles Per Gallon | Sorento |
| * Price As Tested | Wrangler |
| Overall | Sorento |
| Mechanical (25% of total points) |
| * Engine's Available Power | Sierra |
| * Transmission | Wrangler |
| * 4WD/Low-range Engage | Wrangler |
| * Steering | Wrangler |
| * Fit and Finish | Sierra |
| * Drivetrain Performance | Wrangler |
| Overall | Wrangler |
| Interior (10% of total points) |
| * Ergonomics | Sorento |
| * Appearance, Fit and Finish | Sorento |
| * Appointments | Tahoe |
| * Perceived Noise Level | Avalanche |
| Overall | Avalanche |
| Exterior (10% of total points) |
| * Body Styling | Wrangler |
| * Cargo | Avalanche |
| * Four-wheeling Attributes | Wrangler |
| * Fit and Finish | Wrangler |
| Overall | Wrangler |
Previous 4x4 Of The Year Winners
| 2006 | Dodge Ram 1500 TRX4 |
| 2005 | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
| 2004 | Volkswagen Touareg V-8 |
| 2003 | Lexus GX 470 |
| 2002 | Jeep Grand Cherokee(4.7 HO V-8) |
| 2001 | Jeep Grand Cherokee(five-speed auto transmission) |
| 2000 | Toyota Tundra |
| 1999 | Jeep Grand Cherokee(4.7 V-8 Limited) |
| 1998 | Jeep Grand Cherokee(5.9 V-8 Limited) |
| 1997 | Jeep Wrangler Sport |
| 1996 | Jeep Grand Cherokee(with center diff lock) |
| 1995 | Dodge Ram(2500 V-10 longbed Club Cab) |
| 1994 | Dodge Ram(1500 V-8 shortbed regular cab) |
| 1993 | Jeep Grand Cherokee |
| 1992 | Chevrolet Blazer (fullsize) |
| 1991 | Dodge Dakota |
| 1990 | Nissan Pathfinder(four-door) |
| 1989 | Toyota pickup |
| 1988 | Jeep Cherokee (4.0 engine) |
| 1987 | Nissan Pathfinder(two-door) |
| 1986 | Ford Ranger |
| 1985 | Isuzu Trooper II |
| 1984 | Jeep Cherokee (2.8 engine) |
| 1983 | Chevrolet S-10 Blazer |